Pet containment systems are sometimes a necessary part of owning a dog.
If you have a yard, pet containment systems allow your dog to run freely. The systems also ensure your pet is safe and won’t get lost or wander into your garden or pool.
Pet containment systems are more effective than fences because they ensure your dog stays where he’s supposed to be.
Dogs who love to dig can find an escape route beneath a fence. Older fences are more worn down, leading to holes and breaks that allow your pet to escape. Pet containment systems are more durable and keep your dog from digging out.
What are pet containment systems?
Pet containment systems offer an alternative to traditional fences meant to safeguard your pet, keeping it in one area of your yard through different methods. Unsure where to start? Consult a wireless dog fence buying guide.
Wired, in-ground fences involve installing an underground wire around the perimeter of your property. You can customize the system to your yard size and shape. You can install the system during a weekend. The wires are buried around the perimeter of your yard and around anything you want your pet to stay out of, such as pools and gardens.
You can choose to go around your entire yard, continue to an existing fence, or keep the perimeter in your front or backyard only.
A transmitter inside your house creates a signal that monitors the wire, and your dog is contained by wearing a receiver collar that lets out noise when it comes close to the boundary, and if it tries to cross, the collar emits a ticklish sensation.
Wireless dog fences are easier to install than wired systems. A transmitter installed indoors emits a signal in a circular fashion around the yard. Larger houses or narrower properties may need more than one transmitter in order to customize the boundaries fully. Using this system, your dog also wears a collar that uses sound to alert the dog that she’s getting close to the boundaries.
While wireless fences aren’t customizable to the shape of your yard, many have a portable transmitter so that you can take it on the go, keeping your unleashed pet free to roam in one area wherever you are.
Pet containment system advantages
There are some evident advantages to pet containment systems. They’re more aesthetically pleasing than a traditional fence because, well, they’re invisible. They allow you to showcase the beauty of your home without hiding it behind a big fence.
Wireless pet containment systems also can’t be dug under or hopped over. Your dog can play freely, and you don’t have to worry he’ll escape. Although your dog could potentially dig up the wire, the wire is protected, and you’ll know immediately if the fence stops working.
These pet containment systems are a better option overall because of their easy installation and cost-effectiveness. They are cheaper and easier to install than a traditional fence, taking only 1-2 days to complete. They are much more durable and don’t need constant repair. Also, multiple pets can be added to the system, and the systems can be used with pets of all sizes.
Pet containment system disadvantages
Since pet containment systems use electricity to operate, they are prone to outages.
A bad lightning storm can knock out its power, allowing your pet to wander outside the perimeter if you don’t get it back up and running. Many companies offer lightning protection to keep the system from going offline in the case of a strike. There are also backup battery power sources available.
Wired systems are also prone to breaks as well. If you stick a shovel in the dirt and accidentally cut the wire, the entire system will break. Sometimes these disruptions can be hard to find, but some stores sell a device that uses an AM radio to find the break so that you can fix it immediately.
Even though these systems are advertised as available for pets of any size, be mindful of very large dogs. If their instinct tells them to run after something, they won’t mind crossing the boundary.
Additionally, pet containment systems don’t keep other dogs or wild animals out. Be cautious about leaving your pet out alone.
Training is a final disadvantage to pet containment systems. For the system to work to its full potential, you have to train your dog to pay attention to the signals.
Training takes several weeks, and you should wait until the dog is at least six months old and weighs more than 10 pounds before you start training.
Once you complete training, your pet will be able to enjoy the freedom to roam your yard.
Adam Conrad and his family are the owners of five (yes you’ve read that correctly!) Shih Tzu dogs. His wife brought home their first — Scout — while Adam was recovering after surgery due to a bike fall. He had never had a pet before but quickly fell in love. After a speedy recovery and return to biking, Adam adopted another Shih Tzu and then another. Around the time the third pup joined the family, he got the idea to start his website The Shih Tzu Expert. Adam’s dedicated himself to providing a wealth of information so that dog breeders, lovers and novice owners alike can have all of the information necessary to best care for their new furry forever friends.